Why must hemolyzed specimens be rejected for coagulation testing?

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Hemolyzed specimens are rejected for coagulation testing because rupture of red blood cells releases phospholipids and other intracellular components that can create a procoagulant surface and activate the coagulation cascade in an uncontrolled way. This artificial pathway activation, along with interference from free hemoglobin and debris, leads to inaccurate clotting times and unreliable results. Because of these effects, the sample cannot be trusted for precise coagulation measurements. The other options don’t fit: hemolysis does not falsely elevate hematocrit, it does not improve clot detection, and it does have a measurable impact on results.